Random Updates, Commence!

Long time, no talkie. Er, readie. I don't know. I've been a busy bee, you might say. Doing what, you might say. I'll tell you, I'm saying.

See these lovely ladies sandwiching me in this picture? Erin (left) and Amanda (right) came to see me last week for a little sight seeing and DC/Arlington exploration during Amanda's fall break. I know these delightful people from my years in Lexington, and it was so much fun to have them in town. They got in on a rainy Wednesday night and left on a sunny, breezy Sunday afternoon. I'll have you know that I only missed one exit on the way to pick them up at BWI, and missed NO exits when I dropped them off on Sunday. Next time, I won't even need my Google map directions. Wabaaam! (By the way, in this picture we're standing in front of the Castle in the Haupt Gardens. I met them for lunch on Thursday and we were so happy we took a picture to commemorate the occasion.)


Unfortunately, I had to work on Thursday and Friday while Erin and Amanda frolicked about town. This week and last week are two of my office's busiest times during the year. With the fiscal year ending and reports and gift entry and blah blah blah, I couldn't take time off. My guests were quite resourceful and took advantage of those hours to visit museums, take a walking tour (DCbyfoot.com - I highly recommend it!), and do other general sight seeing things. When I left work, the fun began (for me) and I joined them for good times and great food. (In this picture, Amanda and I are pleased to be sitting next to one another on the Metro. Note, this is not the same moment as the one in which we entered the Metro car only to find a large pile of vomit on the floor.)

Thursday night Erin, Amanda and I ate homemade burgers and watched TV at the great 925. Saw a little Ugly Betty, a little VP debate. It was an eclectic evening. Spending the night in was nice and relaxing. I recommend it to a friend. Friday after work I met them outside the Castle and we walked to the Sculpture Garden across the Mall to listen to the final evening of Jazz in the Sculpture Garden. Every Friday night during the summer a live jazz band gives the good people of DC a treat for the ears. Many people bring picnic baskets full of goodies and just hang out around the garden, listening to good music. (Wow, say "good" more.) This Friday marked the end of the summer season for Jazz in the Garden, and it was a bit chilly outdoors. My friends and I didn't linger for two reasons: a. we were hungry, and b. the band was playing smooth jazz (not my favie). We ended up spending the evening in Clarendon - dining, meandering, shopping, and just enjoying my awesome neighborhood. Saturday we feasted on "Grandmother's Light Luscious Lovely Pancakes" and prepared ourselves for a day in the sun. We spent the afternoon exploring the Georgetown neighborhood. M Street is loooooong. From Georgetown we Metroed it to the U-Street neighborhood. We visited Cake Love (most delicious cupcakes ever, by the way), and ended up at this great restaurant called Islander Caribbean. This eatery holds a special place in my heart now because they serve mainly Trinidadian cuisine. I'd been wanting to try this place and Amanda and Erin were more than willing to be guinea pigs with me. We weren't disappointed. I mean, I had chicken roti and even a large glass of sorrell! Unfortunately, they were out of mauby, but the sorrell was pretty good. Ah, the motherland - Trinidad, how I love thee.


My visitors left me two days ago, and now I'm left to my own devices. Yipes. Well, technically I'm not on my own. I do live in a house with 4 other young women. Kristen (on my left), Bridget (right), Stacie and Bekah (not pictured) all keep it real with me at the 925. Work is keeping me busy, as I mentioned previously, and I like it. I work on gift entry and monthly reports and listen to my CDs (I have yet to replace my iPod) and pass the time quite productively.

Some of you might be wondering what I do in my free time. Well, you might not be wondering, but I don't really care. I'm telling you anyway, foo. You know how you don't necessarily have things scheduled when you're not working, but your time just gets gobbled up by random things for which you don't plan? Well, that's my story, too. I am in a book club and a community orchestra, so those things feature prominently in my planner. Other than that, though, I hang out. I read, cook dinner with Kristen (my fellow P90X-er), watch Dancing With The Stars, wander around Clarendon, etc. On weekends Kristen, Bridget and I will sometimes venture in to DC and tap into the night life. On Sundays I've been visiting The Falls Church and I'm enjoying it quite a bit. No, I don't practice during the week, though I'm hoping to change that soon. There is still a lot of DC that I want to explore and random tasks I must complete (like getting my VA license). There are always things to do, and I like that.



For the foreseeable future, 925 will no longer be featured as a bed n' breakfast for my friends/family. I'll miss the activity. Katie (left) and Alexandra (right) started things off with a bang in July. Together we saw the monuments (thanks to DC by Foot), the Capital (you can't miss it - it's right behind Katie and Alexandra), the Library of Congress (partially seen in the last picture), and plenty of museums (I highly recommend the Portrait Gallery and the National Museum of Art). DC is awesome!






Of course, now it's getting cooler and the drearier seasons are teasing us before blasting us full force with their chilly demeanors and harsh personalities. What? Anyway, I'll pack away the air mattress and stow away the extra metro cards I've accumulated until spring arrives and the weather is ripe for travel. If, dear reader, you do get the hankering to brave the elements and fly up for a weekend that air mattress is just a closet door away.

Now I'm looking forward to sweaters and hot chocolate and citrus tea and watching movies by the fake fire (that uses light to give the illusion of flame and puts out electric heat) and holidays and orchestra concerts. Plus, the countdown to seeing my family again has begun. Christmas 2008, woop woop! The end of the year will bring new responsibilities and challenges at work, no doubt. Plus, on the horizon I see a Coldplay Halloween concert, a trip to New Jersey to see the Williams for Thanksgiving, the Nutcracker, and a few Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic concerts. I think I've blogged on all the iconic events of the summer, so from here on out my posts will be all about the great leftovers I brought for lunch yesterday. Get ready :).